Lucretia Mott


Criticism about American Society and Goals:
Lucretia Mott was strongly opposed to the idea of slavery, and also was a great supported of women's rights. Some of her goals included but were not limited to: the abolition of slavery, an increase in women's political participation, and increasing the rights of women in general such as their position in divorce and removing the segregation by gender.
She strived towards getting rid of slavery once and for all, and as a Quaker it was a common goal among her community to make this ambition a reality.

Methods used to improve American Life:
Mott co-founded the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society with her husband James, organized the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society, and worked with Elizabeth Cady Stanton to organize the Seneca Falls Convention. She worked as a Quaker minister by preaching to others about the wrongs of slavery, and why it should be gotten rid of. Also included in being of the Quaker religion, she refused to use cane sugar, cotton cloths, and other goods that had been produced because of slavery.

Successes in promoting the reform:
One success that Mott had in promoting the reform was that in her participation at the World Anti-Slavery convention. Although she went into the Convention thinking she would only be working towards her abolition related goals, she also ended up showing the rest of the world her other cause of women's rights. At this convention, male and female attendees were required to sit in seperate areas, not allowing the female participants in sight of the male ones. She played an active role in this Convention by not only promoting one cause, but two. Another success that she experienced was in collaboration with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, when they planned the Seneca Falls convention, which was the first women's rights convention in America.

Practicality:
Lucretia Mott's goals were relatively practicable in the time period in which they were proposed. The issue of slavery was obviously a big issue during the pre-civil war period, so this was an problem commonly on peoples minds. There were many other reformers with the same goal in mind, and quite a few with the exact opposite as well. As a result of this, the issue of abolishing slavery was a common one in people's minds, thus a pretty practicably goal. Her other goal was rather possible goal since a lot of other women were thinking upset that rights were not equal for all people, which meant both men and women. By joining with other feminists, Mott made her goal even more easily achievable, and her efforts were not wasted.

How the Federal Government could help:
The federal government could have assisted Mott in achieving her goals by proposing laws to resolve the issue of slavery by abolishing it, or proposing other laws that would improve women's rights in the United States. By doing this, the government could have silenced the supporters of slavery permanently resulting in a more united country. The government also could have been understanding towards Mott and given her a chance to explain her viewpoints to them. This would have made the point even more heard that women were finally taking a stand and getting their equal rights. If the government would have proposed either ideas in legislature, this would have greatly helped Mott in achieving her goals.

References:
One reference that would support Lucretia Mott's ideas would be Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Mott and Stanton had the same viewpoint on slavery, that it should be abolished, and that women should have the same rights as men. They worked together as a team to organize the Seneca Falls Convention, thus showing that they wanted the same thing in improving women's rights. They were working towards the same causes, abolition of slavery and increasing women's rights.

Another supportive reference to Lucretia Mott is Susan B. Anthony. She was also a supporter of abolition of slavery and equal rights. As an active member of the Anti-Slavery Society, she acted similarly to Mott in her attempts to better American Society by enforcing the abolition of slavery. She would obviously agree with the ideas of Mott about what was wrong in the American Society at the time.

Works Cited:
Chew, Robin. "Lucretia Mott | Antislavery and Women's Rights Leader." Lucidcafé Interactive Café and Information Resource. 6 Oct. 2009 <http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96jan/mott.html>.

Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Lucretia Mott." Women's History - Comprehensive Women's History Research Guide. 6 Oct. 2009 <http://womenshistory.about.com/od/suffragepre1848/p/lucretia_mott.htm>.

"Lucretia Mott." Spartacus Educational - Home Page. 6 Oct. 2009 <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAWmott.htm>.